Original destination was the Merced National Wildlife Center, but due to a navigation error on my part, ended up further south at Kern and Pixley. The Sandhill Cranes were at Pixley, so the longer drive wasn't too bad. And Merced was still on the way back for the next part of the trip.
Sandhill cranes in flight at Pixley and silhouetted against an early evening sky.
Meadowlark in flight at Pixley
Sandhill cranes illuminated by a rosy early evening light, Pixley National Wildlife Refuge
Cranes on the ground at Pixley
Two cranes in flight together, Pixley
Red-winged blackbirds among the grasses, Pixley NWR
Least sandpiper? Pixley NWR
A lone sandhill crane flies in to join the flock. There were probably about a thousand cranes in the refuge.
Wild black-eyed susans at Pixley
Great egret on the path, in the soft evening light, Pixley
A lone killdeer, Pixley
Masses of cranes start returning to the refuge for the evening as the sun begins to set in the central valley.